|| Uninvited || An Anakin Skywalker Story

Chapter Sixty Five

*clears throat* Ummm hi.

 You guys...I am so sorry for going MIA. 

I am a copywriter by trade and recently work has been soul crushing. It had me doubting my writing all together. Even this fun little creative outlet. So needless to say, this chapter was a monster to get down on paper, but I am so happy to finally be sharing it. 

A lot happens. So please do not hesitate to reach out if some things aren't making sense. 

I love you all so much and would give you all a kiss on the forehead if I could! Thank you for being patient <3 

Here we goooooo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kels's POV

Growing up, I was always told people fall into two categories.

When confronted with danger, there are those who fight or those who opt for flight.

I never considered there was a third option: freeze.

The moment I saw Glynn usher Rala safely away from the chaos Anakin and I were surely headed towards, a numbness coated my limbs. Anakin pulled me along behind him, sticking close to the marble walls that would quake with each distant explosion. If it weren't for the Jedi directing me forward, I wasn't so sure my feet would be able to move on their own.

The initial adrenaline that had coursed through my veins and had driven me to action had quieted. Instead, it felt as though my bloodstream had been infiltrated by a thick, sticky detachment that rendered me practically immobile. I kept my eyes forward, unable to focus on anything other than Anakin's golden fingers interlaced with mine.

While his presence brought me immense relief, I also feared it was my undoing. As if his proximity sent my body into an involuntary state of standstill. Because if I'm with Anakin, I must be safe, I can shut down. 

But I'm not safe. No one is safe right now. 

Is this real? Is this actually happening?

Why can't I breathe? Is this what shock feels like?

Anakin came to an abrupt halt and before my brain could register, I collided with his back. He spun around and I was met with sharpened cobalt eyes. His expression cut through the haze surrounding my thoughts and suddenly all I could see, feel, sense was him.

Always my lifeline amidst the storm.

"Kels," he said in a voice seeped with urgency. "I know you're scared, but you can't check out right now."

"I'm not scared." I gasped, my throat constricting around the words. And it was true. How could I feel afraid when I'm not able to feel anything?

Anakin's eyes scanned my own and he brought his hands up to rest on my shoulders as he angled his head down so that we were eye level. "I can feel you drifting, Kels. Come back to me." He instructed in a controlled voice.

He let out a deep exhale as I felt his fingertips dig into the back of my shoulders. Without realizing, I mirrored his action and released a shaky breath followed by an intentional inhale. The much-needed oxygen coated the inside of my lungs as the heaviness in my chest began to ease. He nodded in encouragement as he repeated the action, watching me carefully as my breathing regulated.

With each gulp of air, the reality of our situation settled into my conscious. The rattle of explosions that reverberated through the halls, the smell of singed debris, the thin layer of smoke that hung in the rafters.